weston



(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. A-. WESTON.

HOISTING MECHANISM. No. 442,469. Patented Dec. 9,1890.

4/ Ill Invade (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. A. WESTON.

HOISTING MEGHANISM. No 442,469. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

"m: norms ravens co., unmmuma wnsmuamn, c. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. A. WESTON.

HOISTING MEG-HANISM. N0.-442,469. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

7 T [[GJ. L27" 6 s v W/A i liNiTn STATES PATENT @FFiCE.

THOMAS A. \V N, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICU' ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE & TO\VNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

HOISTING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,469, dated December 9, 1890.

Application filed May 11, 1888. Serial No. 273|569| (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern. In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is Be it known that I, THOMAs A. WESTON, a a longitudinal section on the line 1 2, Fig. 2, citizen of the United States, and a resident of sufficient of a derrick-winch to illustrate of Stamford, Fairfield county, Connecticut, my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a 5 have invented certain Improvements in complete winch. Fig. 3 is a transverse secl'loisting Mechanism, of which the following tional view on the line 3 T, Fig. 1. Fig. i is is aspecitication. a transverse sectional view on the line 5 U, The object of myinvention is to render the Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a safety lowering device shown and described special form of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a no in the United States patent granted to me on side view, looking in the direction of the arthe 14th day of December, 1809, No. 98,000, row, Fig. 5; and Fig.7 is a transverse section self-regulating as to the degree of compreson the line 7 S, Fig. 5. sion applied to the friction-coupling faces Referring in the firstinstance to Figs. 1 to thereofthat is to say, the amount of coup- 4, \V is the frame of the derrick-winch, to 1'5 ling pressure applied thereto in the act of which my invention is applied. 11 is the hoisting is automatically limited to what is drum-shaft, mounted in hearings in the frame just sufficient to lift the load and sustain it, and carrying the winding-drum I l and the and at the same time the clutch is operative main wheel II. A is the brake-shaft, and L both for hoisting and lowering from the same is the driving-shaft, both having bearings in 20 common driver. the frame. The ends of the shaft L are In all friction-clutches there are driving and squared to receive any suit-able hand or drivdriven faces. My before-named safety device in g wheel. The shaft L is geared to the shaft clamps or couples the said faces by screw ac- A by devices described hereinafter, and a pintion against the load resistance with excessive ion G on the shaft A gears with the wheel II 2 5 compression and more than is required to on the drum-shaft 1i, and through which moeifectively couple them to retain the load. tion is imparted to the drum. Thus nearly all the driving force is trans- Thebrake-shaft A is provided withascrewmitted through the screw-threads of the said thread A, engaging with a screw-thread withdevice, the strain thereon being multiplied in a sleeve B. This sleeve is provided at one o many fold, according to the pitch of the end with a flange 13, and upon said sleeve, screw-thread. between the flange B and the collar B is a My present invention provides a positive spur-wheel C, capable of limited circumferdriving-connection (say a pawl and ratchet) ential motion thereon. Upon the wheel C is between the shaftdriving wheel or first a lug or driver G, as shown in Fig. land in mover, which is also reversible for lowering, dotted lines in Fig. 4, which can play in an and the driving faces or disks of the clutch, are between stops B and B on the flange B, through which driving device and the drivingand to that extent only the wheel 0 can turn disks all the driving-power must pass whenupon the sleeve 13. The outer face of the flange ever the driving and driven faces become B is in frictional contact with the flange of 0 o sufficiently coupled or compressed to transthe ratchet-wheel D,the latter turning freely mit the driving-power and lift the load. Then on the shaft A, and on its outer rim are ratchthe screw action ceases whenever the driving et-teeth D, while within its interior are fricand driven faces move together from being tional disks D ,Figs.1 and 3,whereby addieffectively coupled by mutual friction. tional frictional adhesion is secured through 5 5 A further feature of my invention consists the intermediate disks E, with the flange E in combining and organizing together upon pinned firmly to the shaft B. The action of one shaft the aforesaid safety or slow lowerthe said alternated disks in increasing fricing device with a separate disk friction couptional adhesion between the parts D and E is ling and brake, whereby a rapid lowering mofully set forth in the specification of my United 10 50 tion is provided in addition to the combined States patent, No. 75,227, of 1868.

slow lowering and hoisting device. ['pon the wheel 0 are two or more pivoted pawls C and C each with a contained spring pressing it against the teeth D of the ratchetwheel D, and by which the wheelO can push around or drive the ratchet-wheel, the said pawls C C and ratchet-teeth being the main features of the independent positive driving device already referred to.

Pivoted to the winch-frame W is a pawl E, which by gravity engages with the ratchetwheel D and checks backward rotation, so that it will be seen that on the rotation of the wheel 0 the pawls C C will positively turn the ratchet-wheel D; but the movement of this ratchet-wheel will not be communicated to the flange E, which is fast to the shaft A, until the lug 0' comes in contact with the stop B on the sleeve 13, thus causing the sleeve to turn also, and as the shaft A is stationary at this time the screw-thread A on the shaft will tend to force the sleeve B in the direction of its arrow against the ratchetwheel D, and as this frictional contact is continued the shaft A will finally be driven through the medium of the applied friction as the sleeve B and wheel D are forced toward the flange E,\vhich will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 1.

On the shaft A is the aforesaid pinion G, which engages with the main wheel H of the winch on the shaft H. The pinion G is provided with a disk-box G and friction-disks G The intermediate disks I are engaged by keys X wit-h the hub I, the latter being fixed to the shaft by a key 1 J is a pressure plate or disk sliding on the key 1 K is a hand-wheel having within its boss a screw-thread adapted to a screw-thread on the shaft A. By turning the hand-wheel in one direction on the shaft the plate J may be forced against the disks G and I, against the pinion G, and the pinion G against the abutment-collar A formed upon the shaft A, and by reversing the movement of the wheel the friction is released. Thus by the said alternating disks the pinion G may be clutched to or released from the shaft A, as fully described in the specification of my aforesaid Letters Patent, No. 75,227, of 1868.

On the driving-shaft L is secured a pinion M, engaging with a spur-wheel O, and also fixed on this shaft is a pinion N, capable of being put into engagement with a spur-Wheel O on the hub of the wheel 0, the pair of gears N and 0 being merely a convenience for obtaining a second and faster speed than is afforded by the pair M and O, and by moving the shaft longitudinally in its bearings the pinion M may be moved out of gear and the pinion N into gear with their respective spur-wheels, as fully shown in the accompan ying drawings.

The operation of lifting and suspending the load is as follows: The motion of the several parts in the act of hoisting are indicated by the arrows. Upon turning the shaft L in the direction of the arrow the pinion M rotates the Wheel 0 upon the sleeve B until the log 0' comes in contact with the stop B on the flange of said sleeve, then imparting to it the motion of said wheel C. Simultaneously the wheel C Will impart its rotation to the ratchetwheel D through the medium of the pawls C and C As the sleeve B follows the screwthread A on the shaft A, the shaft, being stationary, tends to force the sleeve B against the ratchet-Wheel D and the contained disks against the flange E, the latter being pinned to the shaft. So long as the shaft A is thus held at rest the rotation of the sleeve 13 will further compress the disks D and E against the flange E. WVhen, however, the said compression develops friction sufficient between the disks D and E to drive the shaft A, the screwing action and relative motion of the sleeve B on its shaft will cease. Then the driven wheel C will, through the medium of its pawls C and C drive the ratchet-Wheel D, and also, through the frictional couplingdisks D and E, drive the flange E, and eon sequently the shaft A and coupling-pinion G, and through this pinion the winding-drum H on the shaft H. The compression and coupling action of the screw-sleeve B upon the disks D and E is thus always proportioned to and determined by the load, and is never in excess of what is required to lift and sustain it, rendering easy and smooth the backward or safety lowering motion of the devices set forth in'my patent, No. 98,000, of 1869, the excessive strains of the said original devices being thus avoided.

To lower rapidly, the shafts, gearing, and safety lowering devices above described are left at rest, and the hand-wheel K, above described, is turned sufficiently to withdraw its coupling-pressure from the disks in the box G, allowing the pinion G to turn backward under the load strain independently of the shaft A. The said backward or lowering motion is always under the control of the handwheel, and can be arrested by it at any moment. Thus two distinct modes of lowering are provided on the same shaft, either one available at the will of the operator.

In the foregoing example of the brake-shaft said brake-shaft is driven by a spur-wheel ICC IIO

through the medium of the improved safety lowering device. The friction-disks of the safety lowering device in this case do not form part of or eoact with the rapid lowering device, but I can so combine the two devices that one set of disks may be used for both purposes. This is shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. In this case the spur-pinion is driven by its shaft through the intervening safety lowering device and its independent positive driving-connection, but combined therewithis the quick brake lowering mechanism, so a'ranged that one set of friction-disks serves for both modes of lowering.

A is the shaft, driven by a crank or other suitable mechanism, and at A thereon is a screvv-thread, a corresponding thread being out within the boss of the hand-wheel 15. By means of a set-screw B this wheel can be locked to a notched flange G of a pinion G by screwing said set-screw into one of said notches. The pinion G is provided with a disk-box and friction disks G therein, adapted to slide 011 but free to turn with the said box. Loose on the shaft A is a wheel D having ratchet-teeth D. ()n the hub D of this wheel area series of disks D adapted to slide longitudinally on but free to turn with the hub, and these disks alternate with the disks G, above described.

A pawl F, 7, pivoted to the winch'frame, engages with the ratchet-teeth D of the wheel D. The wheel D is provided with internal teeth D", with which a pawl E, pivoted on a flange E engages, as shown in Fig. 7, the flange E being pinned firmly to the shaft and forming the abutment against which the friction-disks and connected parts are pressed by the screw-boss of the wheel D. The said pawl E and ratchet-wheel D" are the main parts of the positive driving device before explained. Steel washers A are inserted between the wheel I) and the flange E to com pensate for wear and to lessen friction, and can be replaced when necessary.

The operation of this device is as follows: Upon turning the shaft A in the direction of its arrow, the flange E pinned thereto, will by its pawl E propel the ratchet-wheel D and its disks in the same direction. The pinion G engaged with the main wheel ll, will be held at rest thereby under the load or retarded while the shaft Abegins to turn. The hand-wheel K, locked to the pinion G by the set-screw B, will also be at rest or retarded along with said pinion. Thus as the handwheel B is retarded and the shaft A is turned the screw A thereon will tend to force the wheelB in the direction of its arrow, and consequently will force the pinion G toward the flange E compressing the intervening disks, and as the rotary motion of the shaft A is continued the compression of the disks will continue so long as the pinion is held back by the load; but when the disks D attain sufficient adhesion to the disks G the latter will be driven thereby, as will also the pinion G and the main wheel 11, geared thereto. Thus the resistance of the load is made to effect the adequate coupling of the disks for overeon'iing the load, the compression of the disks being always to the degree required,and nothing over. Consequently the backward or lowering motion, wherein the disks are released from pressure slightly, is an easy one, requiring no severe effort at first to remove the excessive compression formerly put upon the friction surface of the original device of my aforesaid Letters Patent No. 08,000.

\Vhen a rapid lowering motion is required, the rim of the hand-wheelis grasped and the set-screw B is removed from the notched flange G of the pinion, thus freeing the wheel, and by turning the wheel the screw-pressure upon the disks can be withdrawn or restored at pleasure,allowing any desired speed of backward rotation of the pinion G or its stoppage at any instant. Two modes of lowering the load are therefore provided for the hoist by the means described.

The making of the screwed boss B" of the hand-wheel a separate piece from the pinion B is not here claimed, being so found in the specification of my Inited States patent, No. 217,031, dated July 1, 1879, and No. 320,315, dated June 16, 1885.

\Vhere the safety or slow lowering action only is required, the internal screw-boss of the wheel 13 can be made integral with the pinion G' and the other portion of the wheel B omitted.

Thus it will be seen that the form of my improved safety device shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 is necessary when the same is operated by its shaft, the figures 1 to 4 being suitable when the shaft is driven through the safety device from a driving-wheel, as O.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, in a hoist, of frictional clutching-surfaces between the driving and driven parts, screw-formed inclines for pressing said frictional surfaces together, and a positive drive-gear for the friction surfaces, whereby the surface acted upon bythe screw is relieved from the duty of rotating the parts, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a hoist, of the shaft A, the screw thereon, the flange E, secured to the shaft, a ratchet-wheel, a driving pawl or pawls engaging therewith, a carrier for said pawls, a presser-sleeve driven by said carrier and engaging with the screw and bearing on the ratchet-wheel, and friction-disks between said ratchet-Wheel and the flange E, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a hoist, of a screw and disk friction driving device and safety lowering device, a retaining or checking device,and a separat-efriction driving coupling and brake, and a shaft on which they are organized, substantially as set forth.

a. The combination, in a hoisting mechanism, of a shaft having a screw-thread thereon, friction devices, a ratchet-wheel and drivingpawl therefor, with a sleeve having a thread adapted to engage the screw-thread on the shaft, so that as power is exerted the sleeve will apply the frictional engagement necessary for lifting the load, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the shaft A, having the screw-thread thereon, the sleeve B, having a screw-thread engaging with the screwt-hread on the shaft, and a ratchet-wheel D, with friction devices, the flange E, secured to the shaft, a wheel 0, adapted to engage with the sleeve 13 and provided with a pawladapted to engage with the ratchet-teeth of the wheel D, substantially as and for the purpose de scribed.

(3. The combination of the shaft A, having a screw-thread thereon, with the sleeve 13, having a screw-thread engaging with the screw-thread on the shaft, with a ratchet-' wheel D, flange E, friction devices between said flange E and wheel D, with a drivingwheel C, having a lug 0, adapted to engage with lugs B and B on the sleeve, and provided with pawls engaging with ratchet-teeth on the wheel D, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the shaft A, having a screw-thread thereon, a sleeve having a thread en gaging with the screw-thread on the shaft, with a ratchet-wheel and a drivingpawl therefor, with frictional devices, and a flange E, secured to the shaft A, in combination With a pinion G, loose on the shaft, with a friction-brake secured to the shaft, and with a hand-wheel K, by which the pinion is frictionally secured to the shaft through the medium of the friction-brake, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination, in a hoist provided with screw-formed inclines and frictional devices, of the driving'shaft whereby hoisting and safety lowering actions a1'eeifected,with a hand-wheel incorporated with the screw device, whereby the frictional devices may be independently operated.

9. The combination, in a hoist provided with screw-formed inclines and. frictional devices, of the driving-shaft A, a frictionallydriven part G an abutment E ,a ratchetwheel'D, a screw-thread upon the shaft, as at A, a corresponding screw-threaded part B, a hand-Wheel or rim B therefor, whereby the frictional devices are independentlycontrolled.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. A. WESTON. lVitnesses:

SCHUYLER MERRITT, GEo. E. WHIT 

